Hertford choir perform at Westminster Abbey

Hertford Chamber Choir has made a guest appearance at Westminster Abbey in London, performing a Choral Evensong to a packed congregation.

The group of 30 singers was invited to sing at the Abbey last month (April) during the Abbey Choir's pre-Easter break, focusing on a range of liturgical settings as well as their chosen anthem - Ave Maria, by 19th Century Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. It was the first time the work had ever been performed in the historic building.

Now the choir is turning its attention to matters closer to home and gearing up to perform at this year's Hertfordshire Music Festival at All Saints' Church in Hertford on Saturday 7th June.

"It's always very special and a great honour to sing in Westminster Abbey with its incredible atmosphere and heritage," said the Choir's Musical Director, Manvinder Rattan. "But it’s every bit as special to sing here in Hertford in the county's very own Music Festival. We can't wait to be back in Hertford for our next performance."

The concert, entitled "From Shadows Hope Shall Rise – The Music of Reflection and Renewal", is in association with the Hertfordshire Festival Community Concert Band and marks the 80 th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. 

Hertford Chamber Choir was set up under the umbrella of Hertford Choral Society (HCS) in January 2022 with the aim of singing interesting and challenging repertoire suitable for a smaller group of singers.

Performances have been local and further afield – including evensong in Westminster Abbey, and concerts in various venues in Hertfordshire, Bath and Chingford. In November 2022, HCC went on tour for the first time, performing a solo concert in the beautiful St Peter’s Church in Vienna. In December 2024, the choir performed Britten's Ceremony of Carols by candlelight. The concert was so successful that this will become a regular performance before Christmas.